What Is Another Way to Say “Ripped Off”?

Looking for synonyms for ripped off? We’ve got you covered!

Here’s a list of other ways to say ripped off.

  • Swindled
  • Defrauded
  • Cheated
  • Conned
  • Fleeced
  • Scammed
  • Deceived
  • Hoodwinked
  • Bamboozled
  • Overcharged
  • Duped
  • Gouged
  • Victimized
  • Exploited
  • Bilked

Want to learn how to say ripped off professionally? Keep reading for examples and use cases.

1. Swindled

Used when someone is tricked out of money or assets in a deceptive manner.
Example: “The investors felt swindled when they discovered the false promises of the startup.”

2. Defrauded

Appropriate in legal or financial contexts where someone is illegally deprived of money or rights.
Example: “The company was defrauded by a contractor who inflated costs.”

3. Cheated

Used in informal or general contexts where someone is deceived for personal gain.
Example: “He felt cheated after realizing the software license was invalid.”

4. Conned

Often used in casual contexts, similar to swindled, involving trickery or deception.
Example: “She was conned into buying counterfeit equipment for the office.”

5. Fleeced

Implies being deceived in a way that involves a large financial loss.
Example: “The small business was fleeced by an agency that overcharged for basic services.”

6. Scammed

A broad term used for any kind of fraudulent or deceptive practice.
Example: “The company was scammed by an online phishing attack.”

7. Deceived

Used in a broad sense where there is dishonesty or misleading information.
Example: “The manager felt deceived by the false productivity reports.”

8. Hoodwinked

Often used in a slightly informal context to imply being tricked by cunning or deceit.
Example: “He was hoodwinked into signing a contract with hidden fees.”

9. Bamboozled

A more colloquial term for being tricked or taken advantage of.
Example: “We were bamboozled by the exaggerated benefits of the new software.”

10. Overcharged

Used specifically in contexts where someone is charged too much for goods or services.
Example: “The department was overcharged for its office supplies.”

11. Duped

Implies being fooled or tricked into something.
Example: “The investors were duped by misleading financial statements.”

12. Gouged

Used to describe situations where prices are unfairly high or exploitative.
Example: “The company felt gouged by the sudden spike in raw material costs.”

13. Victimized

Appropriate in contexts where someone suffers from fraud or deception.
Example: “The small vendors were victimized by the unfair trade practices of larger companies.”

14. Exploited

Used when someone takes unfair advantage of another, often in a professional context.
Example: “The freelance workers were exploited with low pay and no benefits.”

15. Bilked

A term often used in financial contexts, implying being cheated out of money.
Example: “The clients were bilked out of thousands in a Ponzi scheme.”

Linda Brown